The link led to a single image of a man in a lake, wearing a snorkel and holding a martini, and the words "a film by Joss Whedon based on a play."

Cue the collective geek freakout.

Whedon had just completed production on "The Avengers" and instead of taking a month-long vacation, invited a group of friends to his Santa Monica, Calif., home and shot a movie in secret in just 12 days.

More than a year later, Whedon's new adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing", starring a cadre of familiar faces from the "Whedonverse", is finally getting a U.S. premiere.

Shot in black and white, the film's modern setting promises to be the "Romeo + Juliet" of "Much Ado" adaptations.

Amy Acker, who worked with Whedon on "Angel", "Dollhouse" and "Cabin in the Woods", stars as Beatrice; Alexis Denisof, ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel", "Dollhouse" and "The Avengers") takes her on as the antagonizer-cum-lover Benedick.

Fillion (Dogberry) is joined by his "Firefly" costar Sean Maher (Borachio).

Clark Gregg, who became a surprising fan favorite as Agent Phil Coulson in "The Avengers", "Iron Man" and "Thor" and who is reprising the role in the Whedon-directed TV show "S.H.I.E.L.D.", plays Leonato. And Reed Diamond, a "that guy" actor with guest-starring roles in dozens of shows, plays host to the whole party as Don Pedro.

Whedon and his wife, Kai Cole, started a mini-production company to bankroll the entire film, and it debuted at the Toronto Film Festival in September to rave reviews.

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